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The holidays can be a stressful time, scrambling to find or make the perfect present for friends and family members. If you’ve procrastinated this fun but tedious task, you might feel like time is running out. Not to worry, there’s an entire industry of clever, eco-friendly, access-oriented services just waiting to be discovered, and you don’t have to go to the mall to find them.

If you’re tired of the eye rolls every time your brother-in-law opens your upcycled, biodegradable, fair-trade socks, these alternatives from the sharing economy will be a clever way to evangelize about a greener world without putting the congregation to sleep.

Transportation For Less

In this 24-hour world, we’re constantly on the go. Unfortunately all that moving around in gas-powered vehicles continues to take its toll on the planet as well as our pocketbooks. A gift certificate or membership to car sharing services like Zipcar, RelayRides, or Getaround provides access to resources that could eventually eliminate the need for a personal car. Even better, most of these services offer fleets of hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles for planet-friendly travel. Toss in a rented parking space from Parkatmyhouse near their job or favorite downtown restaurant and your loved ones will be singing your praises all year long.

Extra Hours In The Day

Tired of your best friend telling you they can’t hang out because they’re too busy or can’t find a babysitter? Give a gift certificate or membership to time-sharing services like TaskRabbit or SittingAround so they can hire locals to take care of those tasks while you catch up over coffee!

An Unforgettable Experience

There’s a reason why all the travel guides always have sections about “locals’ favorites”: because you have to be a local to really know the best and most exciting features of a town. Vayable and Gidsy are services that connect people who love their area with others who want to learn, see, or experience something awesome. Whether you’re a tourist or a recent transplant, there’s always a dream experience waiting for you — as long as you know where to look. Tuck a gift card from either of these services into the stocking of that hard to please family member or coworker and you’ll be hailed as the best Secret Santa ever.

meet our writers

Beth is a freelance writer and editor living in the Rocky Mountain West. So far, Beth has lived in or near three major U.S. mountain ranges, and is passionate about protecting the important ecosystems they represent. Follow Beth on Twitter as @ecosphericblog or check out her blog. less